The United States of 1787 is no longer a nation united under the principles that all men are created equal. This nation’s schism needs to be closed with the same zeal and need for Unity. Compromise has got us through the issue of Slavery. No longer can it glue together broken pieces. We need to mold this Union under the principles that truly ALL men and women are created equal. We acknowledge that the South sees us a demagogues fighting for the cause of blacks and turning on their People. That is not true. We want what is best morally and nationally. Nation’s progression has been lacking. Great Britain will become The Land of the Free. How can a proud nation allow this? How can we let the people that terrorized our rights become the symbol for freedom? We must Reunify and Reconcile painlessly and rightfully.
Problems:
What should be done to the ex-Confederates?
What should be done for the freedmen?
Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments?
What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation?
How should the Southern economy be restored?
What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South?
Goals:
The plan proposed will focus on accepting the rebels into the Union in a quick, but manner that will ensure loyalty to the Union. This is to occur once the States convene and rewrite their State Constitution, and agree allegiance to the United States of America. The United States does not need to struggle to reunify the Country. We need the South as much as the South needs the North. The country shall face a new age with the admittance of the Freedmen as citizens, voters, and humans, who are no longer property. In addition, to ensure that we promise to give voting rights to the women that have been deprived of their suffrage. Congress shall set up a Bureau that would focus on supporting BOTH the Freedmen and the Southern citizens that agree to allegiance. This assistance will range from basic food and water to education and shelter. The North and investors will aid the crippled Southern economy by Industrializing the farms out of date, and purchases for railroad line, factories, or any other investment will go towards the South’s recovering economy, The last point will be a temporary militarized South as insurgence are imminent, therefore to avoid conflict we will have rotation of Union soldiers patrolling the individual States.
The 60% Plan
If three-fifths of the white population, of the rebelling states pledges undoubtful allegiance to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the state shall rejoin the United States. Immediately after rejoining the union, the common white, man or woman, shall be allowed their natural rights as American citizens. Even if they were in state of rebellion it is just for these mislead souls to be reinstated as dutiful American citizens. Voting allegiance to the Union will mean that the states will completely obey Federal law. States, however, that have any laws in place that contradict Federal law must first repeal them before regaining rights and representation. This includes infringements of Freedmen right to vote, civil rights, and right to live peacefully in their home state. This also includes laws that will prohibit them to working in desired type of labour, and paying them the just wage as any other white man. “Confederate” states who are caught passing such contradicting laws in place after being accepted into the Union will lose their rights and representation, and must go through this process again. IF the white man in the rebelling states was a low ranking soldier, they retain their natural rights as American citizens and voting rights. IF the white man in the rebelling states was a Political or Military leader of pro-slavery confederation should be barred from holding office. In order to prevent the South from continuing to undermine the attempts of the Union to unify all peoples of differing colors. If they wish to hold a position, they would be required to appeal to Congress, on the basis that they have a legitimate reason. Legitimate reasons would include evidence of wrongly being charged or violation of Bill Of Rights They will be allowed to vote for President, Congressmen, Governors, et cetera, and allowed their rights as American citizens.
Freedmen Bureau
Freedmen shall be given food, water, temporary shelter, options to work in the North or the South, and the opportunity to attend public schools.
Work shall range from no skill to no skill as Freedmen learn to adapt. Reason being that they’ve only known the farm, lack the ability to read or write, and will require training.
States can make laws segregating whites and blacks into separate schools. Reasoning being that whites in the South and North will not be welcoming to this new addition. Therefore to maintain healthy relations, it is in the best interest for the country to progressively become accepting of races.
Food and Water shall be provided by the North since there is a heavier supply of crops and transportation via the iron horse. Once freedmen are fit to provide for themselves and their families they shall no longer receive federal assistance. Being fit to provide means that they have a stable income, stable job, and a home.
Temporary shelters would be set up by the U.S. Military in the South on purchased land. This will allow the freedmen to slowly adapt to the society where freedom is no longer a dream. This will also allow for an opportunity for families to be reunited after the vile auctions.
Congress shall pass a bill in order to accept the freedmen into the United States as the clock is close to striking midnight. We shall start by giving them full citizenship and voting rights. Citizenship shall be started as soon as government officials can arrive at various districts. A freedmen vote rights shall be equal to three-fifths in the beginning stages. Eventually it shall be full voting rights. However, to reduce tension with the South, these exceptions have to be made. If the any state North or South attempts to deny the Freedmen these rights, they shall be tried and sentenced as Congress will make certain that no right is prohibited. This will mean that militarial rule will be necessary to oversee the process. (Force Act) Freedmen will be protected by the Federal Law to hold a seat in any desired Government seat. If they wish to run for governor of the State, then she/he shall be democratically allowed to take a seat. We do clearly state women. Not just Freedwomen, but white women; shall be allowed position in government (Sixteenth Amendment). If they wish to work as a postmaster, then, if requirements are met, they shall be allowed the position. If these wishes are threatened it, the Union Military shall take action and settle the conflict.
Southerner Affairs Bureau
The Bureau will focus mainly on recovering the South’s economy and shall take great aims to recover any losses due to the conflict. Federal aid will be allowed to any low ranking officer and non combatants: children, women, and men not enlisted in the army. To put the southern economy back up on its feet we need to employ the southerners in northern industries that will rebuild all the houses, factories, and the transportation routes that were damaged in the South during the Civil War. The Federal government will help to pay for such reconstructions. This in effect will put many southerners back to work, and incentivize more northern companies to come South and employ them. Southern industries will also receive the same treatment as northern companies in terms of Federal aid and taxation. The US Dollar will be reinstituted into the South. Confederate Treasury Notes held by southerners can be traded for an equal value of US Dollars. Farmers producing food will be given government subsidies to ensure that an adequate amount of food will be grown. The Federal government will also institute a price ceiling onto food, as to help curb the south’s hyperinflation. Furthermore, a tariff will be placed on southern food exports until inflation is between 0 and 4%. Unemployment offices will be set up throughout the south, as to help those searching for a job find one. These unemployment offices are not to discriminate against anybody based off of the color of their skin, nor can they purposely segregate races into different jobs.
Force Act
Although the Civil War ended slavery, it did not end the South’s hatred over freed blacks, and they are still being murdered, raped, and being paid low wages for their dutiful work in the fields. So we must protect them until tensions lessen between these two races. We will begin this arduous effort by placing 200 Union troops in each southern county for one week and then they will be switched out for another different 200 Union troops. After they fulfill the one week they will be compensated twenty-five cents each day(1.75 per week), which totals up to 4,550 U.S Dollars (136,500 U.S Dollars each month) , and will be fed at Union outposts near the towns. Transportation for the troops will be paid by federal funds.Their job will be to enforce federal law, enforce wage contracts between former slaves and former slaveholders, and to stop any mobs or attacks towards the blacks.
Sixteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment passed by Congress in 1868 was a vital and important amendment to further secure the rights of Freedmen. However, it is flawed. This flaw affects those that supported the abolition movement for decades. It is an injustice that this folly could occur at a time of grand importance. Therefore it is our proposal and many of our peers proposal, that we pass a Sixteenth Amendment. It is necessary and just that women get the right to vote as citizens of these United States. It is no longer about all men being equal; but all men and women to be equal under the Constitution. These women have aided our soldiers through the great conflict. They have fought tirelessly for the rights of enslaved blacks. Now it is not just the time of the Freedmen; but the time of women to see their status equal to that of a man. They shall be allowed government position with pay that is adequate. Adequate meaning it does not belittle their importance as a Governor, Senator, Representative, etc. We propose pushing this amendment through Congress after all of the southern states have been re-entered into the Union. This would allow the people to focus their attentions on the issue of Women’s rights, and give everybody time to adjust to the previous radical changes. Congress and States are required to protect this amendment equally to that of the Freedmen and Bill of Rights.
Newton's 3rd Law Of Reconstruction
Voting allegiance to the Union will mean that the states will completely obey Federal law. States, however, that have any laws in place that contradict Federal law must first repeal them before regaining rights and representation. This includes infringements of Freedmen right to vote, civil rights, and right to live peacefully in their home state. This also includes laws that will prohibit them to working in desired type of labour, and paying them the just wage as any other white man. “Confederate” states who are caught passing such contradicting laws in place after being accepted into the Union will lose their rights and representation, and must go through this process again.
IF the white man in the rebelling states was a low ranking soldier, they retain their natural rights as American citizens and voting rights.
IF the white man in the rebelling states was a Political or Military leader of pro-slavery confederation should be barred from holding office. In order to prevent the South from continuing to undermine the attempts of the Union to unify all peoples of differing colors. If they wish to hold a position, they would be required to appeal to Congress, on the basis that they have a legitimate reason. Legitimate reasons would include evidence of wrongly being charged or violation of Bill Of Rights They will be allowed to vote for President, Congressmen, Governors, et cetera, and allowed their rights as American citizens.
Congress shall pass a bill in order to accept the freedmen into the United States as the clock is close to striking midnight. We shall start by giving them full citizenship and voting rights. Citizenship shall be started as soon as government officials can arrive at various districts. A freedmen vote rights shall be equal to three-fifths in the beginning stages. Eventually it shall be full voting rights. However, to reduce tension with the South, these exceptions have to be made. If the any state North or South attempts to deny the Freedmen these rights, they shall be tried and sentenced as Congress will make certain that no right is prohibited. This will mean that militarial rule will be necessary to oversee the process. (Force Act)
Freedmen will be protected by the Federal Law to hold a seat in any desired Government seat. If they wish to run for governor of the State, then she/he shall be democratically allowed to take a seat. We do clearly state women. Not just Freedwomen, but white women; shall be allowed position in government (Sixteenth Amendment). If they wish to work as a postmaster, then, if requirements are met, they shall be allowed the position. If these wishes are threatened it, the Union Military shall take action and settle the conflict.
To put the southern economy back up on its feet we need to employ the southerners in northern industries that will rebuild all the houses, factories, and the transportation routes that were damaged in the South during the Civil War. The Federal government will help to pay for such reconstructions. This in effect will put many southerners back to work, and incentivize more northern companies to come South and employ them. Southern industries will also receive the same treatment as northern companies in terms of Federal aid and taxation.
The US Dollar will be reinstituted into the South. Confederate Treasury Notes held by southerners can be traded for an equal value of US Dollars. Farmers producing food will be given government subsidies to ensure that an adequate amount of food will be grown. The Federal government will also institute a price ceiling onto food, as to help curb the south’s hyperinflation. Furthermore, a tariff will be placed on southern food exports until inflation is between 0 and 4%.
Unemployment offices will be set up throughout the south, as to help those searching for a job find one. These unemployment offices are not to discriminate against anybody based off of the color of their skin, nor can they purposely segregate races into different jobs.
We will begin this arduous effort by placing 200 Union troops in each southern county for one week and then they will be switched out for another different 200 Union troops. After they fulfill the one week they will be compensated twenty-five cents each day(1.75 per week), which totals up to 4,550 U.S Dollars (136,500 U.S Dollars each month) , and will be fed at Union outposts near the towns. Transportation for the troops will be paid by federal funds.Their job will be to enforce federal law, enforce wage contracts between former slaves and former slaveholders, and to stop any mobs or attacks towards the blacks.
It is necessary and just that women get the right to vote as citizens of these United States. It is no longer about all men being equal; but all men and women to be equal under the Constitution. These women have aided our soldiers through the great conflict. They have fought tirelessly for the rights of enslaved blacks. Now it is not just the time of the Freedmen; but the time of women to see their status equal to that of a man. They shall be allowed government position with pay that is adequate. Adequate meaning it does not belittle their importance as a Governor, Senator, Representative, etc.
We propose pushing this amendment through Congress after all of the southern states have been re-entered into the Union. This would allow the people to focus their attentions on the issue of Women’s rights, and give everybody time to adjust to the previous radical changes. Congress and States are required to protect this amendment equally to that of the Freedmen and Bill of Rights.